Fairfax Planning Commission to consider theater mural

The Fairfax Planning Commission on Wednesday night will make its final ruling on a matter of aesthetics.

When the commission met last month, a majority of its members decided that a 10-by-39-foot mural that the operator of the Fairfax 6 Theatres wants to have painted on the upper part of the theater's outer, eastern wall is too "busy."

Now Dave Corkill, the theater operator, has requested that the commission take a final vote on the proposed design.

"They loved the art," said Jim Moore, Fairfax's planning director. "They just were not convinced it was the right location for it. They thought it might be a little too busy."

Corkill said, "Fairfax is a very democratic community, and everybody gets to say their piece."

The commission previously granted Corkill its approval for an alternative mural design. That 39-by-29-foot design, created by Jane Richardson-Mack, focused on Mount Tamalpais and how the outline of the mountain resembles a "sleeping lady." The approval of the mural came in conjunction with a 1,632-square-foot addition to the movie theater, which created a sixth screening room there. That work was completed in 2012, Corkill said.

The new mural, designed by Kennan Brothers, portrays bicyclists riding along Fairfax's Broadway streetscape with Mount Tamalpais in the background.

"It's an intelligent mural and looks very lively," Corkill said. "The other mural was a little bit more subdued."

The Planning Commission didn't immediately reject the new design; it initially proposed further discussion at its next meeting. Corkill, however, said he couldn't afford to delay because the new artist had reserved several weeks in August in which to do the painting.

"We asked if there is a way the matter could be expedited," Corkill said.

If the commission rejects the new design, Corkill will then be free to appeal the decision to the Town Council.